Confessions of a oenophile: reviews of highly rated wines, grocery store finds, and all other kinds.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Albemarle CiderWorks Brut D'Albemarle

Albemarle CiderWorks Brut D'Albemarle Cidre Bouche

North Garden, Virginia

www.albemarleciderworks.com

Last month I went touring and tasting in central Virginia and got to visit my favorite local cidery. I was thrilled to find that Albemarle is now making a Champagne-style cider. The Brut D'Albemarle is a bottle conditioned Cidre Bouche (fancy talk for cider under cork) made with Pippin apples. So, what's under the cork?

Review: The Brut D'Albemarle is a gorgeous pale gold color with bright aromas of sweet apple blossom, fresh apple, and toasty pastry. It is bone dry on palate, with fine pin-prick bubbles and zippy acidity. The floral and pastry notes from the nose come through, along with bold apple flavors. It also has a touch of savoy mushroom providing a perfect counterpoint to the tart fruit. The finish is long and lingering.

Food Pairing: Great on a chilly night with chicken and dumpling soup. The slight mushroomy character is enhanced by the fresh herbs in the soup, and the bright acidity cuts through the richness of the dumpling. So very complementary.Bottom Line: Bright and fresh, with a soft creamy texture. Simply perfect.